Austin had been dumped on our front lawn by a Grand Cherokee late at night. I’d been back at home for a few hours when I heard Aurielle sobbing. I thought it was just her crying cause Austin was gone. Turns out he was back and I felt like crying. I didn’t though because I’m… Confident?

“I missed you!” She kept saying, over and over to Austin.

“It was only three days this time, Aurie. Not three weeks.” 

“I know. I know. IknowIknowIknowIknowIknow.” She cried. 

Austin had a rough past. Not with his family or school life. But with the Italian mafia. He told me about it a few years ago but I don’t remember much of what he told me. “Aurielle, give him some space.” I groaned, pulling her away from him.

“Let me go! NOW!” She hissed, clawing at me.

“No! Go to goddamn bed!” I dragged her along the floor and chucked her into a random room before locking her in. “You okay, Austin?” 

“What makes you think I’m okay?” He sighed, gesturing to his bloody face.

“Nothing.” 

“Exactly. Please, get Judy for me.” Austin asked as he made his way towards the couch.

“Austin, deary! When are you going to stay out of trouble?” Judy said as she examined my best friend.

“When trouble stays away from me.” Came his reply when he sat up.

“Where’s Aurielle?” Judy questioned, looking around for Austin’s sister.

“I grounded her.” I intercepted, pointing to the locked bedroom door. 

“Not one of your good ideas, but a good idea.” Judy smiled.

She lifted up the tie that had been left around his neck from the night he was taken. “Turn around, I need to check your back.”

“Do I have to?” Austin asked, fiddling with his thumbs.

“Yes, Austin.”

“Fine.” Austin caved and spun around, revealing the dumpster of scars his back was.

“I can’t tell what’s new and what’s old.” Judy muttered, running her hand over his back.

“Then I’d like to sleep? I haven’t had any for the time I’ve been gone.” 

“Yeah, yeah okay. Goodnight.” Our medic waved him off and Austin stalked off to his room. 

________________________________________________________

Morning light shone through the windows in Aurielle’s room. I was still situated here as I was one of the only ones who hadn’t been injured. 

“Maverick?” A light feminine voice came from my bedroom door.

“Who is it?” I asked, my voice still ridden with sleep.

“Giselle.” She replied, walking into my room.

“Did I say you could come in?” 

“No.”

“Then why are you in my room?”

“Because I have questions.”

“About what? It’s too early in the morning for this.” 

“About Austin.” 

“I know nothing about him, Giselle. So let me sleep.” 

“You’re his best friend, Maverick. You should know some stuff about him.”

“You get three questions and that is it.” 

“What are you, a genie?”

“Two left.”

“Fine! When is his birthday?”

“Uhm.. May.. fifteenth?” I stuttered, unable to remember my best friend's birthday.

“Alright I might have to double check with Aurielle.” She sighed.

“Why do you need answers to these questions?”

“I need to… Like.. Write a report about Austin’s wellbeing? To his parents?” 

“Okay. Get out of my room and go ask Aurielle.” 

“She’s sleeping.”

“Just get out of my room then.”

“So rude. Thanks for that, Maverick.” 

“Mhm, night.” 

“Morning meeting! GET UP MAVERICK!” Geronimo yelled at me, coming into my room already dressed in a suit and tie. 

“God, it’s like wayyy to early for this. How are you in a damn suit?”  I mumbled into my pillow, clutching it closer to my face.

“Up. Now. We have stuff to talk about now that Austin is back.” He pulled my arm so I fell out of my bed and on the floor.

“Hey! Just get out of my room and I’ll come out.” Geronimo nodded and walked out of my room, taking a call that had just come in.

“What are we talking about?” Aurielle smiled, holding a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Geronimo?” Austin tilted his head towards him.

“We need to bump up our security so no one else gets injured or stolen.” He sighed, placing his phone face down on the counter.

“Easy! Security cameras and we go on missions in pairs.” I suggested trying to put a smile on my face.

“I doubt it’s that easy. Like, other teams like Piltatria I feel have an inside connection to us. Maybe someone from the cyber team is letting them into events like that dinner.” Yuka shot back at me. “Plus, Geronimo and I don’t even live here, so what’s the point of security cameras if all of us aren’t even here!” 

“Such a party pooper.” I groaned, stifling it with my cup.

“I have no ideas, not this early in the morning at least.” Aurie grunted, rubbing her temples.

“We’ll come up with something. I have a meeting with the board tonight, I’ll chat to them about it then.” Geronimo assured, fiddling with the cuffs of his suit.

“Alright, good idea. Now, moving aside from business, how about we plan my birthday party?” I smirked, sipping my coffee.

“How old are you, six?” Aston scoffed at me.

“I’ll be twenty four, actually. So I’d prefer my party not be held at a play centre, thanks.” I glared at Aston. This close to throwing my cup at him. 

“Right. When is your birthday again?” Austin sighed, seemingly disappointed in himself for forgetting his best friend’s birthday.
“July fourteenth.” I filled in for him. “It’s okay if you forgot because I forgot yours.” 

“Phew. I’ll plan something for that day then.” Austin smiled before wincing. He had a black eye that had gotten worse overnight. 

“Not until you're better, you won’t. Come on, let’s go see Judy.” Aurielle butted into our conversation, snatching up her younger brother.

“But I’m fine, Aurie! Like am I dead? No. So I don’t need to see Judy!” Her brother sneered, pulling his arm back.

“Too bad.” She picked him up and began walking to the infirmary. “We’ll be back.”

“Bye.” Aston said coldly.

“Bye bye.” I waved and got back to sipping my coffee.